Fire extinguisher discharge device



y 22, 1952 H. ENSMINGER FIRE EXTINGUISHER DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Oct. 20, 1950 R m w W.

IHARRYE/VSM/NGER I BYCANIMA QT A TTORNEY Patented July 22, 1952 d/UNITED STATES YATENT OFFICE I ,2,604,173 A t FIRE EXTINGUISHER DISCHARGE DEVICE- Harry E nsminger, Milburn, N. J., assignor to CO-Two Fire Equipment Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application October 20, 1950, Serial No. 191,109

This invention relates tinguishing fires, and particularly to a discharge device for carbon dioxide used, as an extinguishing medium. I e I I It is important, in most cases, for the efiective extinguishment of fire by carbon dioxide, that the discharge device or nozzle be such that as large a proportion as possible of the issuing fiuid be converted into carbon dioxide snow. The carrying quality of a stream is improved with an increase in snow content as well as its efiectiveness in extinguishing a fire. Further, in order to facilitate its maneuverability, the discharge nozzle should be as compact as possible.

Prior devices have been provided for use in discharging carbon dioxide as a fire extinguishing medium, such as the device shown and described in United States PatentNo. 1,993,696'issued on March 5, 1935, to S. E. Allen et al., and that shown and described in a co-pending application of Joseph E. Kucher, filed June 7, 1947, Serial No. 753,297, now U. S. Patent No. 2,547,018.

The present invention is an improvement over the Kucher. device in that the present invention provides a compact discharge device that is particularly suitable for use in discharging a large quantity of low temperature carbon dioxide at a faster rate than is possible with the prior'devices of similar size.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device for discharging'carbon dioxide in which the stream of carbon dioxide issuing from the orifice or jet is expanded in a region of extremely low temperature so that the expanding fiuid is prevented from absorbing heat during the initial period of its expansion.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device for discharging carbon dioxide at a high rate of discharge and which is compact in construction and light in weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved discharge device for carbon dioxide that is simple and economical in manufacture, efiicient in operation and durable in use.

In accordance with the invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a device for discharging liquefied carbon dioxide in which the fluid is expanded and deflected back over itself under a certain amount of back pressure so that the initially expanding fluid is surrounded by further expanded fluid of extremely low temperature, the expanding fluid being redirected so as to prevent the formation of eddy currents and insure a smooth evenly distributed flow.

8 Claims. (01. 169 -11) to an apparatus for ex- I This construction is advantageous in that the initially expanding fluid is prevented from. fibsorbin heat from, the atmosphere or from ad.- jacent portionsof the discharge device. Due to the-absence of heat, thetemperature of theex- .panding fluid immediately drops, to a value 2at which snow is readily formed in a large proportion to the amount of fluid discharged. A sec-.- ondary resultis thatthe turbulence caused by the reversed gflow produces larger particles of snow which providebetter carrying propertiesin the discharged stream., 'I'he larger particles of snow also evaporate into gas at a proportionally slower rate and are thus more efiective as a fire extinguishing agent. Another advantag is that by the practical elimination of eddy currents in the discharge stream, a flow of better carrying characteristicis obtained. V v

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, which shows, .by way of example, an embodiment of the invention.

In-the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of .ahose reel carbon dioxide installation including a discharge device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view' of the discharge device.

Figure 3 is an end view of the discharge device.

Feferring to the drawing there is shown in Figure 1 a discharge nozzle in accordance with the invention shown as attached to the discharge end of a hose 2 wound on a wall or truckmounted hose reel 4. The hose reel 4 may be connected by supply pipe 5 to a source (not shown) of-fire extinguishing fluid, such as carbon dioxide. A main valve 6 is connected in the supply pipe 5 to shut off th fire extinguishing fluid supply to the hose reel 4. Another valve 1 is inserted in the hose line 2 adjacent the discharge nozzle I so as to provide means for the intermittent discharge oi the fire extinguishing fluid. .While the discharge device or nozzle is shown as attached to a hose reel, it is to be understood that it might be alternatively connected to a built-in system or to a truck mounted supply container.

The discharge device or nozzle shown in section in Figure 2 includes a housing or a body member 8 adapted to be connected to a semi-flexible operating handle 9 or extension of the hose 2. The body member 8 has a passage l0 extend ing therethrough providing an inlet and outlet for the fire extinguishing fluid. The operating handle 9 may be connected in threaded engage- 3 ment with the housing 8, or any other suitable connecting construction may be used. In the discharge side of the body member 8 is an orifice member ll having a longitudinal discharge ori-' fice I2 and a plurality of transversely extending orifices M in its side wall.

The orificememben H is preferably secured' in the outlet passage HJ-by threaded engagement with the wall thereof; or any other suitable connecting construction might be used, such as a friction fit. The orifices I4 are preferably equally An outer shield or redirecting member 15 preferably of generally cylindrical shape is secured to the body member 8 and is positioned with its open end directed outwardly. The shield l5may bemade of metal or of plastic material as desired. In order to receive the discharge end of the body member 8; an opening I6 is made in the end wall of'the redirecting member l5. To strengthen the construction a stiffening disc I;

with an apertured center is placed about the opening [6 of the shield E5 and. made with aligned apertures'extending into a' flange 18 of the body member 8 to receive screws Hi to secure the shield in position to the body member8. v

In order that the issuing fluid is deflected back over itself and expanded in a heat exchange relationship, a plurality of baffle members are secured in position spaced from the orifice. An inner generally cone-shaped baflle' member 20 with a flattened end 2| is apertured as indicated at 22 and secured in position with an apertured flange 24 adapted to receive bolts 25 extending through a spacing member 26. Positioned outwardly from the baflie'member 20 is a second bafile' member 29of similar construction, likewise having a flattened end 30' with an aperture 3t, the baffle member 29 secured in position'with an apertured flange 32 to receive the bolts 25, and separated from the baffle member 20 by'a spacing member 34. outwardly from the balilemember 29 is a third baffle member 35 made in a generally similar shape with a flattened end 36' having an apertured flange 3! to receive the bolts 25 and separated from the baffle member 29 by a spacing member 39. The baffle member 35 differs from the bafile member 20 and 29 in thatit doesnot'have an apertured end wall. The baflie members'zil, 2'9 and 35 are preferably made with their outer diameters progressively reduced. That is, so thatthe diameter of baffle member 29'is less than that of bafiie member 26, and, the diameter of the member 35 is less than that of baffle member-2 9 to thereby provide a space of increasing annular section for the expanding fluid as it'issues 'from the redirecting member 15. The assembly'ofjbafile and spacing members is secured together by nuts 4!! attached to theends of the bolts 25. It is to be understood, however, that while the baffle members and spacing membersare shown as secured together by means 'ofthe bolts 25 and the nuts 40, other equivalent constructions may be used, for example, the 'entireassembly o-fbaflle and spacing members might be cast as a single member to provide a'unitary assembly.

In using the discharge device 4, it is directed to a fire, the valves 6 and 1 being opened so that the extinguishing fluid is discharged through the transversely extending orifices l4 and the axially extending orifice l2. As stated above a larger proportion of the fluid is discharged through the orifices I4, the discharge therefrom travelling outwardly along the inner wall of the redirecting member l5, The longitudinal discharge through the axial orifice l2 travels outwardly, a portion thereof passing through the aperture 22 of the first baffle member'20 and the remainder being turned back and over the issuing stream fluid to provide a heat exchange relationship therebetween, this portion of the fluid being expanded and directed outwardly along the inner side of the shield 15 along with the stream of fluid issuing from the transverse orifices I4. 7

The portion of the longitudinal discharge fluid passing through'the aperture 22, in part, passes through the aperture 3!, while the remainder thereof is deflected back by the wall of the baflle member 29 to pass between the spaced bafile members 26 and 29 to join the fluid flow from the transverse orifices M. The portion of the longitudinal discharge fluid passing through the apertures 3! is directed radially between the baffle members 29 and 35 to join the already issuing streams adjacent the inner wall of the-directing member l5.

As the issuing streams merge towards the end of the shield l5 further expansion takes place between the inner wall of the redirecting member l5 and the outer wall of the bafile member 35. A stream being provided practically freeof eddy currents and in which a large proportion of the issuing fire extinguishing fluid has been converted'to snow. By reason of the heat exchange relationship' between the various streams of fluids flowing from the orifices avery cold stream is had readily forming snow, particularly under the influence of the back pressure provided by the comparatively restricted passages between the various baflle members and between their flanged ends and the inner wall of the shield l5.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a nozzle or discharge device for carbon dioxide or other fluid liquefied under pressure has been provided, in accordance with the-invention, in which the expanding fluid is surrounded by further expanded fluid of extremely low temperature and under conditions of back pressure such as facilitate the forming-of a large proportion of snow. A construction is provided which is simple and economical in manufacture,

efficient in operation, and durable in use.

' ing from the invention, for example, 'while the baffle members 2d, 29 and 35 have been described as, and illustrated as being of conical shape and with a flattened end, it is 'to' be understood that any other suitable equivalent constructions maybe utilized. Alternatively, curved sections may be provided in which a portion of the issuing fluid is directed back'over itself while being expanded, the fluid being thereafter redirected so as to prevent the formation of eddy currents to provide a smooth, evenly distributed flow. Therefore, the form of the invention as set out above should be considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a discharge nozzle for fire extinguishing fluid liquefied under pressure of the class wherein a body member has an inlet and an outlet passage, redirecting means are positioned 0pposite the outlet passage and spaced therefrom so that the fluid may expand therebetween and shaped to reverse the expanded stream issuing from the outlet passage back over itself in a heat exchange relationship, and means are provided to direct the expanded stream into a desired direction, the improvement which comprises an apertured baffle member interposed between the redirecting means and the outlet, and means to support the bafile member in position.

2. In a discharge nozzle for fire extinguishing fluid liquefied under pressure of the class wherein a body member has an inlet and an outlet passage, redirecting means are positioned opposite the outlet passage and spaced therefrom so that the fluid may expand therebetween and shaped to reverse the expanded stream issuing from the outlet passage back over itself in a heat exchange relationship, and means are provided to direct the expanded stream into a desired direction, the improvement which comprises a cone-shaped apertured baffie member interposed between the redirecting means and the outlet, and means to support the baffle member in position.

, 3. In a discharge nozzle for fire extinguishing fluid liquefied under pressure of the class wherein a body member has an inlet and an. outlet passage, redirecting means are positioned opposite the outlet passage and spaced therefrom so that the fiuid may expand therebetween and shaped to reverse the expanded stream issuin from the outlet passage back over itself in a heat exchange relationship, and means are provided to direct the expanded stream into a desired direction, the improvement which comprises a plurality of spaced apertured baffle members interposed between the redirecting means and the outlet, and means to support the baffie members in spaced position.

4. In a discharge nozzle for fire extinguishing fluid liquefied under pressure of the class wherein a body member has an inlet and an outlet passage, redirecting means are positioned opposite the outlet passage and spaced therefrom so that the fluid may expand therebetween and shaped to reverse the expanded stream issuing from the outlet passage back over itself in a heat exchange relationship, and means are provided to direct the expanded stream into a desired direction, the improvement which comprises an apertured baffle member interposed between the redirecting means and the outlet, and an outlet member having a plurality of transan extension member for the outlet passage, the

extension member having a plurality of apertures around its side, an apertured baffle member interposed between the outlet extension member and the cone-shaped redirecting member, and means to support'the baffle member in position.

6. A discharge nozzle for fire extinguishing fluid liquefied under pressure comprising a body member having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, a hollow cone-shaped redirecting member having its base positioned about the outlet, an extension member for the outlet passage, the extension member having a plurality of apertures around its side, an apertured cone-shaped baflie member interposed between the outlet extension member and the cone-shaped redirecting member, and means to support the apertured coneshaped bafiie member in position.

7. A discharge nozzle for fire extinguishing fluid liquefied under pressure comprising a body member having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, a hollow cone-shaped redirecting member having its base positioned about the outlet, an extension member for the outlet passage, and a plurality of apertured cone-shaped baffle members interposed between the outlet extension member and the cone-shaped redirecting member, the outlet extension member extending into the adjacent cone-shaped baflie member.

8. A discharge nozzle for fire extinguishing fluid liquefied under pressure comprising a body member having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, an outlet passage extension member threadedly engaged in the outlet and having a plurality of apertures about its wall, a generally cylindrically shaped directing tube about the outlet and having an apertured end wall to receive the outlet end of the housing and supported thereby, a generally cone-shaped member having its smaller end directed outwardly, a plurality of generally cone-shaped bafiie members having apertured ends interposed between the cone-shaped member and the outlet extension member, the outlet extension member extending into the first baflle member, spacing means to separate the first baffle member from the end of the outlet extension and to separate the bafile members from each other and from the coneshaped member, supporting means to hold the baffle members and the cone-shaped member in position within the directing tube, the directing tube extending outwardly to the end of the coneshaped member.

HARRY ENSMINGER.

No references cited. 

